GB2477271A

GB2477271A - Motorised dental flosser with disposable end piece

Info

Publication number: GB2477271A
Application number: GB1001274A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Dandy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-01-27
Filing date: 2010-01-27
Publication date: 2011-08-03
Anticipated expiration: 2030-01-27
Also published as: GB2477271B; GB201001274D0

Abstract

The flosser has a drive unit (300) having an electric motor (402, fig 4) operatively connected to a pair of friction rollers (412) and a disposable end piece. The end piece has two hollow tines 102, the ends of which are turned to face each other across a gap. A loop of dental floss is deployed along each of the hollow tines, across the gap and around a pulley 108 within a housing. The friction rollers in the drive unit engage with the pulley in the housing, causing the floss to spin around its loop. The loop is exposed to its environment only across the gap, which helps to prevent anything from fouling or tangling with the moving floss. The ends of the tines include scrapers to remove detritus from teeth and preventing it from accumulating on said floss. The floss is preferably of the tape form. The tines have an elongated 'S'-shape.

Description

Motorised Dental Flosser and Disposable End Piece

Field of Invention

This invention relates to a hand held device for flossing teeth, to a disposable end piece for such a device, and a hand held motorised drive unit.

Background of the Invention

Motorised dental flossers which cause a disposable end piece supporting a length of dental floss to move in an oscillatory fashion between a users teeth in radial (EP0554623A2 and DE3625991A1), longitudinal (US5170809A) or rotary (US2005076933A1 and US2006005854A1) directions with respect to the handle of the flosser are well known. Other motorised flossers cause a length of dental floss to vibrate between a users teeth (US2005000537A1) . For these devices, the length of floss is retained between tines on the disposable end piece of the flosser, which makes it easy to keep clean between usages.

In WO2004017853A2, a loop of floss is used, which is attached to a rotatable element on the disposable end piece. The rotatable end piece is caused to oscillate and the floss to moves in an oscillatory fashion between a users teeth. The loop is exterior to the flosser: it can therefore be washed.

In the above flossers, the distance the floss moves is limited, and this reduces the efficiency of cleaning.

In US2008029l22Al the ioop of dental floss driven by a motor to provide a continuous cleaning motion; the movement of the floss is continuous while the flosser is switched on. The loop of dental floss is disposable and replaceable by the user, but for safety reasons to do with the moving floss engaging with a users hair or other objects, it is at least partly located on the interior of the flosser: this means there are potential hygiene problems resulting from detritus accumulating on the ioop.

Disclosure of Invention

From the foregoing, it may be appreciated that a need has arisen for a rnotorised flosser that uses a loop of dental floss arranged on an easily replaceable disposable element, where only that part of the loop between the tines is exposed, which is able to move continuously in either direction and which has means for cleaning the loop in use. The device of the present invention rotates a loop of floss through a disposable headpiece. This allows for greater reach and control over the traditional flossing method.

The dental flosser has a drive unit having an electric motor operatively connected to a pair of friction rollers and a disposable end piece. The end piece has two hollow tines, the ends of which are turned to face each other across a gap. A loop of dental floss is deployed along each of the hollow tines, across the gap and around a pulley within a housing. The friction rollers in the drive unit engage with the pulley in the housing, causing the floss to spin around its loop. The ioop is exposed to its environment only across the gap, which helps to prevent anything from fouling or tangling with the moving floss. The ends of the tines include scrapers to remove detritus from teeth and preventing it from accumulating on said floss. The floss is preferably of the tape form. The tines have an elongated S'-shape and part of the tines is parallel to an axis of the housing and part of the tines is at an angle to an axis of the housing. The angled end piece allows the user to floss with greater ease.

The present invention also includes the disposable end piece and the drive unit.

Brief Description of Drawings

For a more complete explanation of the present invention and the technical advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description and the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 shows the disposable end piece for a motorised flosser; Figure 2 shows a side view of part of the end piece; Figure 3 shows the end piece attached to the drive unit; and Figure 4 shows the components within the drive unit.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Embodiments of the present invention and their technical advantages may be better understood by referring to Figure 1, which shows the disposable end piece (100) for a motorised flosser of the present invention.

The end piece has two hollow tines (102) attached to a housing (104). Distal ends of the tines relative to the housing are turned to face each other across a gap (106) . The housing has a pulley (108) at one end, and a loop of dental floss (110) is deployed around the pulley, along each of the hollow tines and across the gap. The distal ends of the tines include scrapers * -3- (112) so detritus accumulating on the floss during use is removed as the loop is moved. This stops detritus accumulating inside the disposable end piece, which circumvents potential hygiene problems and also prevents build up of debris in the hand-held drive unit (see below). In use the loop of dental floss moves continuously in one direction when the flosser is switched on.

Referring now to Figure 2, which shows a side view of part of the end piece, the tines have elongated S'-shape where part of the tines (112) is parallel to the axis of the housing, and part of the tines (114) is at an angle to the axis of the housing. This means that the tines can be placed in the mouth of the user so that they straddle the users teeth without being impeded by the housing. The floss in the gap can thus easily pass through the inter-dental space between adjacent teeth.

Referring now to Figure 3, which shows the end piece attached to the drive unit (300) to form the motorised fiosser, the drive unit is held in the hand of the user, and may be switched on/off by means of the power button (302) Referring now to Figure 4, which shows the components within the drive unit, a motor (402) powered by a battery (404) drives a bevel gear pair (406), which in turn drives a spur gear (408) . A pulley belt (410) transfers drive from the spur gear to a pair of friction rollers (412) . The friction rollers spin in the same direction and do not touch each other. A grommet (414) provides a watertight seal to protect electrical parts.

In use, the disposable end piece is clipped to the drive unit by means of two annular snap fit clips (116), and the pulley in the end piece engages with the friction rollers in the drive unit. The long neck and angled end piece allows the user to floss with greater ease and reach spots that were previously too difficult with standard hand flossing. When the drive unit is turned on the floss is spin round by being passed through the three rotating rollers. Two of these, the friction rollers (402) are in the drive unit and the other, the pulley (108) is in the disposable end piece. Any plaque or food remains is removed by small scrapers when passing in and out of the head piece.

Claims

Claims 1. A disposable end piece (100) for a dental flosser including: (a) two hollow tines (102) attached to a housing (104>, distal ends of said tines relative to said housing being turned to face each other across a gap (106); (b) a pulley (108) located at least partly in said housing; and (b) a loop of dental floss (110) deployed around said pulley, along each of said hollow tines and across said gap; characterised by: (1) said distal ends include scrapers (112) whereby detritus from teeth accumulating on said floss is removed; (2) said ioop of dental floss moves continuously when said flosser is switched on; and (3) said loop is exposed only across said gap.
2. The end piece of claim 1 in which said floss is a tape.
3. The end piece of claims 1 or 2 in which said tines have an elongated S'-shape wherein part of said tines (112) is parallel to an axis of said housing and part of said tines (114) is at an angle to said axis of said housing.
4. A drive unit for a dental flosser including an electric motor (402) operatively connected to a pair of friction rollers (412), said friction rollers operatively engageable with a pulley (108) of a disposable end piece for said dental flosser.
5. The drive unit of claim 4 including a battery (404) for powering said motor.
6. The drive unit of claim 5 wherein said battery is rechargeable.
7. The drive unit of claim 4, 5 or 6 wherein said motor drives a bevel gear pair (406) operatively connected to a spur gear (408) 8. The drive unit of claim 7 wherein said spur gear is operatively connected to a pulley belt (410) 9. The drive unit of claim 8 wherein said pulley belt is operatively connected to said pair of friction rollers.10. The drive unit of claims 4 to 9 including power button (302) whereby said drive unit may be switched on/off.11. A dental flosser including: (a) a drive unit, said drive unit including an electric motor (402) operatively connected to a pair of friction rollers (412); (b) a disposable end piece, said end piece including: (a) two hollow tines (102) attached to a housing (104), distal ends of said tines relative to said housing being turned to face each other across a gap (106); (b) a pulley (108) located at least partly in said housing; and (b) a loop of dental floss (110) deployed around said pulley, along each of said hollow tines and across said gap; wherein said friction rollers are operatively engaged with said pulley; characterised by: (1) said distal ends include scrapers (112) whereby detritus from teeth accumulating on said floss is removed; (2) said loop of dental floss moves continuously when said flosser is switched on; and (3) said loop is exposed only across said gap.12. The dental flosser of claim 11 in which said floss is a tape.13. The dental flosser of claims 11 or 12 in which said tines have an elongated S'-shape wherein part of said tines (112) is parallel to an axis of said housing and part of said tines (114) is at an angle to said axis of said housing.14. The dental flosser of claim 13 including a battery (404) for powering said motor.15. The dental flosser of claim 14 wherein said battery is rechargeable.16. The dental flosser of claim 13, 14 or 15 wherein said motor drives a bevel gear pair (406) operatively connected to a spur gear (408) 17. The dental flosser of claim 16 wherein said spur gear is operatively connected to a pulley belt (410) 18. The dental flosser of claim 17 wherein said pulley belt is operatively connected to said pair of friction rollers.19. The dental flosser of claims 11 to 18 including a power button (302) whereby said drive unit may be switched on/off.Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows: Claims 1. A disposable end piece (100) for a dental flosser including: (a) two hollow tines (102) attached to a housing (104), distal ends of said tines relative to said housing being turned to face each other across a gap (106); (b) a pulley (108) located at least partly in said housing; and (C) a continuous ioop of dental floss (110) deployed around said pulley, along each of said hollow tines and across said gap; (1) said distal ends including scrapers (112) whereby detritus from teeth accumulating on said floss is removed; (2) said ioop of dental floss being arranged to move continuously when said flosser is switched on; and (3) said ioop being exposed only across said gap.2. The end piece of claim 1 in which said floss is a tape.3. The end piece of claims 1 or 2 in which said tines have an elongated S'-shape wherein part of said tines (112) is parallel to an axis of said housing and part of said tines (114) is at an angle to said axis of * said housing.* 0*.s* * * 4. A dental flosser including: * (a) a drive unit, said drive unit including an electric motor (402) S..* operatively connected to a pair of friction rollers (412); S.....* (b) a disposable end piece, said end piece including: * ,* (a) two hollow tines (102) attached to a housing (104), distal * * . * 25 ends of said tines relative to said housing being turned to face each other across a gap (106); (b) a pulley (108) located at least partly in said housing; and (c) a continuous loop of dental floss (110) deployed around said pulley, along each of said hollow tines and across said gap; wherein said friction rollers are operatively engaged with said pulley; (1) said distal ends including scrapers (112) whereby detritus from teeth accumulating on said floss is removed; (2) said ioop of dental floss being arranged to move continuously when said flosser is switched on; and (3) said loop being exposed only across said gap.5. The dental flosser of claim 4 in which said floss is a tape.6. The dental flosser of claims 4 or 5 in which said tines have an elongated S'-shape wherein part of said tines (112) is parallel to an axis of said housing and part of said tines (114) is at an angle to said axis of said housing.7. The dental flosser of claim 6 including a battery (404) for powering said motor.
8. The dental flosser of claim 7 wherein said battery is rechargeable.
9. The dental flosser of claim 6, 7 or 8 wherein said motor drives a bevel gear pair (406) operatively connected to a spur gear (408).
10. The dental flosser of claim 9 wherein said spur gear is operatively connected to a pulley belt (410).
11. The dental flosser of claim 10 wherein said pulley belt is operatively connected to said pair of friction rollers.
12. The dental flosser of claims 4 to 11 including a power button (302) whereby said drive unit may be switched on/off. S... * . **SS ** .5 *.* * . *.*. * * ***.S555... * S * .* * * . I.. S ***** * .